The forensic holodeck: an immersive display for forensic crime scene reconstructions.

Forensic Sci Med Pathol

Institute of Forensic Medicine, Virtopsy, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland,

Published: December 2014

Purpose: In forensic investigations, crime scene reconstructions are created based on a variety of three-dimensional image modalities. Although the data gathered are three-dimensional, their presentation on computer screens and paper is two-dimensional, which incurs a loss of information. By applying immersive virtual reality (VR) techniques, we propose a system that allows a crime scene to be viewed as if the investigator were present at the scene.

Methods: We used a low-cost VR headset originally developed for computer gaming in our system. The headset offers a large viewing volume and tracks the user's head orientation in real-time, and an optical tracker is used for positional information. In addition, we created a crime scene reconstruction to demonstrate the system.

Discussion: In this article, we present a low-cost system that allows immersive, three-dimensional and interactive visualization of forensic incident scene reconstructions.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12024-014-9605-0DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

crime scene
16
scene reconstructions
12
system allows
8
scene
5
forensic
4
forensic holodeck
4
holodeck immersive
4
immersive display
4
display forensic
4
crime
4

Similar Publications

Using fingermark powders and lifters on pangolin scales for anti-poaching measures.

Forensic Sci Int

January 2025

King's Forensics, Department of Analytical, Environmental and Forensic Sciences, King's College London, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, UK. Electronic address:

Wildlife forensics is a relatively underexplored field of science. It provides forensic evidence to support legal investigations involving wildlife crime, such as the trafficking and poaching of animals and/or their goods. The consequences of poaching are not just limited to a decline in animal welfare and include the spread of zoonotic disease, species, cultural and habitat loss, and injury of anti-poaching rangers.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The detection of explosives in crime scene investigations is critical for forensic science. This study explores the application of laser desorption (LD) ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) as a novel method for this purpose utilising a new IMS prototype developed by MaSaTECH.

Methods: The LD sampling technique employs a laser diode module to vaporise explosive traces on surfaces, allowing immediate analysis by IMS without sample preparation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Many witnesses are intoxicated at crime scenes, yet little is known of their ability to accurately describe perpetrators to police. We therefore explored the impact of alcohol on delayed verbal face recall across two experiments. Participants were administered an alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage prior to viewing either one or two unfamiliar female faces, which they described from memory the following day while in a sober state.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Inferring the ancestral origin of DNA evidence recovered from crime scenes is crucial in forensic investigations, especially in the absence of a direct suspect match. Ancestry informative markers (AIMs) have been widely researched and commercially developed into panels targeting multiple continental regions. However, existing forensic ancestry inference panels typically group East Asian individuals into a homogenous category without further differentiation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Estimating the postmortem interval (PMI) is critical in the field of forensic science, and necrophagous insects play a significant role in this process. (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) is a common necrophagous insect species, making its rapid and accurate identification essential. However, commonly used molecular biology methods, such as DNA barcode, still have some limitations in identifying necrophagous insects as they are often complex, time-consuming, and reliant on laboratory instruments.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!